Washington, D.C. – The United States Energy Association (USEA) has been awarded a five-year, multimillion dollar cooperative agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to support the clean, secure energy transition across Europe and Eurasia.  

The USAID/USEA Just and Secure Energy Transition (JSET) program builds upon 30 years of groundbreaking development assistance in the region, and sets an ambitious plan to improve the renewable energy readiness of countries in the region while ensuring that they can maintain reliable, secure energy during that transition. USEA will harness US energy industry expertise and experience, as well as the expertise of partner organizations around the world, to aid in the region’s transition.  

For the countries in the region—with particular focus on those in Southeast Europe, the Balkans, and the Black Sea area—the JSET program aims to: operationalize and integrate regional energy markets; improve energy system operation and integrate reliable, cost-effective clean energy technologies into energy networks; improve regional energy sector resilience and response capabilities to disasters and extreme events; increase adoption of US-developed or supplied grid enhancing technologies; and improve public understanding of the benefits of a clean energy transition. 

“The energy sector in Europe and Eurasia has made remarkable progress since the end of the socialist era. But there are acute challenges associated with the oncoming winter season and longer-term sustainability issues that must be addressed to ensure a just transition. We are honored that USAID entrusted us with a project of such great importance to the region,” said William Polen, Senior Director for USEA. Polen will oversee the JSET cooperative agreement.  

USEA has been providing energy development assistance to this region for more than 30 years. Last month, the association concluded a 10-year cooperative agreement with USAID. Under that agreement, the USEA Energy Technology and Governance Program delivered tens of thousands of hours of training to energy professionals who have emerged as the leaders of change and progress in the region; improved the institutional capacity of regional operators to model, analyze and prepare major infrastructure projects that have improved reliability and accelerated regional energy trade; leveraged billions of dollars in clean energy infrastructure investment; and fostered professional that will last well into the future. 

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The United States Energy Association (USEA) is a nonprofit, apolitical, non-lobbying organization founded in 1924. USEA’s mission has two pillars of equal importance. Domestically, USEA serves as a resource, by convening energy stakeholders to share policy, scientific, and technological information to foster the advancement of the entire energy sector. Internationally, USEA supports global energy development by expanding access to safe, affordable and environmentally acceptable energy in partnership with the U.S. Government.